Mo. District to Find, Fix Sports Facilities’ Alleged Inequalities Under Title IX

After failing to come to an agreement with complainants alleging violations of inequality between boys’ and girls’ sports facilities Butte School District No. 1 will conduct a self-investigation by mid-January into its locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities, and plan to remediate any inequalities found.

The district entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in late November after failing to come to an agreement with former girls’ softball coaches Sid deBarathy and Mike Foley. DeBarathy and Foley alleged the district had violated federal Title IX law, which ensures girl and boy athletes the same access to quality facilities.

DeBarathy and Foley said Stodden Park’s facilities, which are used by Butte High girl’s softball teams, need dramatic improvement and don’t compare to boy’s sports facilities like the new Naranche Stadium.